A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Initial perceptions of the #WeThe15 campaign among disability rights organisations
Authors: Ng, Kwok; Legg, David; Haslett, Damian; Noske-Turner, Jessica; Pullen, Emma
Publisher: The Nippon Foundation Parasports Support Center
Publication year: 2024
Journal: Journal of Paralympic Research Group
Volume: 22
First page : 1
Last page: 21
ISSN: 2432-6100
eISSN: 2434-429X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32229/parasapo.22.0_1
Web address : https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/parasapo/22/0/22_1/_article/-char/en
The #WeThe15 campaign was launched at the 2020 Paralympic Games (but held in 2021 due to the COVID pandemic) with a short video, a logo with accompanying hashtag and lighting up buildings around the world to raise awareness that 15% of the world’s population live with disabilities, and the barriers they experienced enabling full participation in society should be broken. And while the campaign was lauded professionally, little remains known about how the campaign was perceived in the public eye, particularly in terms of professionals who represent or have disabilities themselves. Interviews and focus groups were thus conducted in five regions around the world to better understand initial perceptions of the campaign and recommended future directions. Data were analysed collectively through a bricolage methodology. Initial impressions of the #WeThe 15 campaign were generally positive, although it seems the reach was not as global as it was initially intended. Recommendations include localisation of the messaging behind the campaign being considered more carefully, and more support provided for continuing the campaign.